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Caltex Socceroos Aussies abroad weekend preview: Europe

A host of Caltex Socceroos will this weekend be out to continue to press their claims for a spot in Bert van Marwijk’s squad for next month’s friendlies against Colombia and Norway.

From the FA Cup in England to league action right across Europe, there’s a stack of Aussies in action over the next couple of days.

Here’s a look at which Aussies are in action in Europe this weekend.

BIG CHALLENGE FOR AUSSIES IN FA CUP

Jackson Irvine could get an early taste of Australia’s first FIFA World Cup match against France when his Hull City travels to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and their French midfielder N’Golo Kante.

It looms as a huge test for Irvine’s Tigers, who are currently just above the drop zone in the Championship and the Caltex Socceroos midfielder will need to be at the top of his game if his club is to replicate their 2014 run to the final.

Aaron Mooy’s gruesome knee injury is set to keep him out of Huddersfield’s clash with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, while Mat Ryan’s Brighton will be expecting to progress when they host League Two battlers Coventry City.

Should the Seagulls win at the AMEX Stadium, they’ll advance to the FA Cup quarters for the first time since 1979.

Elsewhere, another shot-stopper in Danny Vukovic will have to be at the top of his game as his Genk go up against top-of-the-table Club Brugge in the Belgian First Division.

Aziz Behich will hope his Bursaspor side can beat Yeni Malaytspor to push them into the top half of the Turkish Süper Lig, while Tomi Juric will hope to keep up his good form for Luzern in their match-up with third-placed FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League.

Further afield, Nikita Rukavytsya’s Maccabi Haifa will hope to build upon last week’s 4-0 win in this week’s match with Bani Sakhnin in the Israeli League, while Awer Mabil (Pacos de Ferreira v Vitoria Setubal) and James Jeggo (Sturm Graz v Rapid Wien) should be in action in Portugal and Austria respectively.